Updated Fertilization Recommendations for Drip Irrigated Crops

Extension specialists in the Mid-Atlantic have updated fertilizer recommendations for drip irrigated plasticulture production of crops in the Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations. The following are recommendations for watermelons and tomatoes.

Suggested Fertilizer Program Using Trickle Irrigation for Watermelons

Days After Planting

Daily

Cumulative

Nitrogen1

Potash1,2

Nitrogen1

Potash1,2

——————–lbs/A——————–

Preplant3

—

—

25

50

0-14

1.0

1.0

39

64

15-28

1.5

1.5

60

85

29-56

2.0

2.0

116

141

57-78

1.5

1.5

137

166

79-93

1.0

1.0

150

175

1Adjust rates accordingly if you apply more or less preplant nitrogen and potash.2Base overall application rate on soil test recommendations.3Applied under plastic mulch to effective bed area using modified broadcast method. Adjust as needed.Note: recommendations are based on 8 foot bed centers. If beds are narrower, fertilizer rates per acre should be adjusted proportionally. Drive rows should not be used in acreage calculations.

Suggested Fertigation Schedule – Fresh Market Tomatoes

Days After Planting

Daily

Cumulative

Nitrogen1

Potash1,2

Nitrogen1

Potash1,2

——————–lbs/A——————–

Preplant3

—

—

50

125

0-14

0.5

0.5

57

132

15-28

0.7

0.7

67

142

29-42

1.0

1.0

81

156

43-56

1.5

1.5

102

177

57-77

2.2

2.2

148

223

78-98

2.5

2.5

201

276

1Adjust rates accordingly if you apply more or less preplant nitrogen and potash.2Base overall application rate on soil test recommendations.3Applied under plastic mulch to effective bed area using modified broadcast method. Adjust as needed.Note: recommendations are based on 6 foot bed centers. If beds are narrower, fertilizer rates per acre should be adjusted proportionally. Drive rows should not be used in acreage calculations.

This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 19th, 2012 at 2:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.